Prodigal Son season one premiered last Monday night on FOX and is getting mixed reviews, currently ranking at 59% (rotten) on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer, even though Michael’s performance is being praised by most critics. Read below some selected excerpts of reviews published so far and click on the links to read them. Warning: some of them have spoilers, so do not read them if you haven’t seen episode one “Pilot” yet!

At the show’s center, Sheen cleverly carries off a character with all the urbane wit of Hannibal Lecter, but evil buried further under the surface. He doesn’t kill because, as in Lecter’s case, it’s an amusing game that proves his superiority. He kills because he is governed by forces he cannot understand or control. The show, though, is completely in control, deploying Sheen carefully, well, and never too much.

Dr. Whitly’s crimes are unspeakable, sure, but he presents himself as a peach. And somehow funny? Michael Sheen is dancing with light feet in this role, clearly having a blast playing a serial killer who is at once a duplicitous menace and a charming conversationalist. And he really does give Martin the air of caring deeply about his son in his own wild, and often controlling, way.

Sheen outshines anyone else he shares screen space with, gripping the audience with his masterful portrayal of a serial killer who also wishes to be a doting father to his son – to reconnect with him despite his past and to reconnect because of his past and Malcolm’s present.

Michael Sheen puts on a mannered comic performance reminiscent of his Wesley Snipes character in NBC’s sitcom 30 Rock. Every day references mean little to his Martin Whitly as he was raised a little differently. He gives off an air of studious indifference, but will still break his inner bad guy code for a hug from his son, who manages to always stay one step beyond the shackles which bind the surgeon to his work space.

The fact that we’re still this type of trauma and character presented in such a different way is a reason to keep an eye on Prodigal Son. The other reason is the cast and in particular the always amazing Michael Sheen. It is a bit odd to see him on screen after Good Omens playing an all too friendly serial killer. Sheen is one of the actors that people need to remember is good in nearly everything and seeing him on television regularly is a good thing. Even more so when he’s channeling his inner Hannibal Lecter.

And, of course, Michael Sheen gets a chef’s kiss for his perfect portrayal of a crazy-eyed normal-seeming guy who just happens to be a ruthless serial killer. Considering most of his scenes are from his well-appointed room at the mental hospital, he does a lot with what he’s given, going from “creepy normal” to “homicidally enraged” in the way that only Michael Sheen can do. The part fits him like a bespoke suit.

[…]

There’s enough to recommend Prodigal Son, knowing that Fedak and company have the skills to get things right. But the three best reasons to keep watching are Michael Sheen, Michael Sheen and Michael Sheen.

We don’t get a lot of Michael Sheen in the pilot – or at least not as much as we might like given this enjoyable outing. Sheen knows the style and tone well enough to not chew up the scenery fully, instead walking a line between chaos and camp.

Sheen is charismatic and funny as Martin Whitly. The Surgeon should not be this likable, but he is. It leaves the viewer as conflicted and drawn to Martin as Malcolm is. The poor guy’s plight is understandable.

Carrying over his bushy beard and utter lack of restraint from The Good Fight, Sheen is a malevolent delight, mixing Yoda-ish platitudes like “What if psychopathy is not a disease? What if it’s a kind of genius?” with genuine paternal concern and just enough of a wild-eyed glint to convey danger when he wants to. Soon it may be time for somebody to go back and be reminded of how marvelously subtle Sheen was in Masters of Sex, but he’s on a roll where there aren’t many actors I more enjoy seeing go over the top.

What happens when you cast Michael Sheen as a brilliant psychopath and serial killer then don’t use him for more than eight or nine minutes per episode? We spend the other 30 minutes wondering why he isn’t onscreen.

[…]

Sheen is just too much fun to watch, playing the killer as an exuberant, overgrown child, unable to contain his glee whenever his son arrives for a consultation. Through three episodes, Sheen goes very light on psychotic menace, a refreshing choice that also allows for future revelations about Martin’s motives.

[…] with Michael Sheen in the Lecter-adjacent role as Malcolm’s estranged serial killer father, there are few moments where Prodigal Son offers a glimpse of hope for a better series. However, here’s way too little of him in “Pilot,” however, which limits his influence on the ability of this first hour to have any measurable impact.

Website Status

Disclaimer

Michael Sheen Source has no affiliation to Michael Sheen, his management or his family. This is a fan-made site designed to inform people who follow the actor’s career. Everything we publish here is only because we want to share all the good things about Michael with other fans of his. No copyright infringement is intended. Everything here is copyright to their respective owners, unless stated otherwise. If you do not want any of your material in our website, please, contact me at michaelsheensource@gmail.com before taking any legal action andI will take them down as fast as I can.

In respect to Michael’s privacy and his family’s, Michael Sheen Source will not post paparazzi-taken or unauthorized photos that are unrelated to his professional life.

Thank you for visiting us!

Search

Michael Sheen Source is a non-profit making fansite, made by fans for fans and it is not affiliated in any way with Michael Sheen, his family or his management. All graphics and images on this site are copyrighted to the original owner and no infringment is intended. If you're the owner of anything here and would like us to remove it or credit you for it, please, don't hesitate and contact us. Some Rights Reserved.